Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part time.

Write a letter to your boss. In your letter

• explain why you want to reduce your working hours
• say which hours you would like to work
• describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Max,

I would like to request regarding cutting down my working hours. Since I am planning to begin studying part time at university.

I am joining university from next month. Because of that reason i will not be able to work full time. Since i will be having classes three days a week. If possible I would like you to arrange my working schedule during the weekend. This is because on weekdays I will have to attend classes as well as do the assignments.

The most important reason to start education again is, I believe completing my studies will help me reach to higher posts along with better fundamentals at work place. This will encourage me to read more and understand the basics of workplace where i have been working for many years.

I will make sure this decision will not affect the routine work responsibilities. Since this venture of mine will help me gain necessary experience needed for my better future. I will be waiting for any suggestions or discussions which are necessary in this process.

Yours faithfully,

Malav Shah

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention that your studies will help you reach 'higher posts,' you could have provided a more concrete example of how the specific skills gained from your course would directly improve your current work performance. The letter is clear and the purpose is well-defined, meeting the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with each paragraph focusing on a specific part of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Because of that reason' and 'This is because,' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, the paragraphing is slightly inconsistent, with some very short sentences that disrupt the flow. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph develops a single, cohesive theme without relying on overly simplistic sentence starters.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your request clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'working schedule,' 'routine work responsibilities,' and 'part-time studies.' However, there is a lack of variety and some slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'reach to higher posts' (should be 'reach higher positions') and 'start education again' (better as 'pursue further education'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repeating basic words like 'work' or 'reason' too frequently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with sentence fragments (e.g., 'Since I am planning to begin studying part time at university.') and punctuation issues, such as the misuse of full stops where commas or conjunctions would be more appropriate. You also have some minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'at university' vs 'at the university' and 'at work place' vs 'in the workplace.' While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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